A. Panduro - How long till they mature?

[richardhmc]

Hi! I have had a pair of Panduros for about half a year now, in my 20 gallon high tank. They have grown well in size but their color doesn't seem to show which makes me question if they are panduros or not. I know that they are supposed to show off either sky blue or yellow depending on gender but these guys just have a red outline on their tail fin, black fins with yellow tipping on the bottom and black spots on the sides. Actually, only of them has an very obvious black spot, the other one is more faded. So how long before they mature to their full color and breeding capabilities? Thanks!

 

[peterK]

My youngsters of A. baenschi about half a year after hatching, with 3,5cm of male and 2,5cm of female have spawned, although they did not show they full colours.

I think you should show us pics of both specimens, to ensure you've got male nad female. After that, we will think further.

 

[richardhmc]

Okay, I tried as best as I could to take pictures but apparently they are camera shy.

Both fish are approx 2 inches big.

http://i36.tinypic.com/307xif7.jpg - this is the smaller of the two

http://i37.tinypic.com/34qmbz6.jpg - this is the bigger one

http://i33.tinypic.com/9k0cub.jpg - together

I'm still wondering if they are even panduro.. maybe they are nijsseni?

Thanks!

 

[peterK]

Yep, they are A. panduro. However, they are two males, so you need to find a female. By the way, as I see tank hasn't incredible amount of hideouts or so. If you want to get the pair to spawn, you should put into the tank a lots of bogwood, coconut shells, plants. Whithout that they will be always camera shy.
Byt first, change one of males to female.

 

[richardhmc]

How can you tell that both of them are males?

Oh great.. now i have to find a female haha

Also, aren't they supposed to be either completely sky blue or completely yellow? Comparing to pictures that I've found, panduros are supposed to have their whole body in the color

 

[peterK]

Here you got a pic of female A. panduro:

- she has much more yellow on the body than bluish color;
- she has much wider suborbital stripe than your "female"
- she also has a wide lateral band, very few A. panduro females has only a spot, but even if they have, it's bigger than your specimen has;
- she has no caudal spot;
- ventral fins of this female have wider black stripe than yours
etc.

 

[richardhmc]

Thank you so much for your reply!! Now I just have to find an apisto panduro but unfortunately finding these fish is harder than finding the holy grail!